My son is nearly 2 and has development delays in his speech which the health visitor said that a free nursery place would or could help him with that.... and yes my family are on benefits for the simple fact of the lack of jobs!!!

So obviously I am grateful that this opportunity has arisen for my son to get some extra help.

However what I DO NOT agree with is parents/families who choose to live on benefits as 'easy money' which i dont get cause despite what many of you think, living off benefits is hard work. There are no treats and everything has to be saved up for for months. I have £20 spare a fortnight after all the bills go out! These people possibly do not deserve the help from the government.

The government is just trying to help children, however backwards their logic may be.

This isn't a thread about benefits people are missing the point. If income support wasn't part ofthe criteria people wouldnt even have issue with it.

Whilst you think its disgusting and you are jumping the gun in your assumptions, can I say - from a providers point of view, the children I have cared for via this scheme - oh my goodness its heartbreaking. Believe me you would backpedal your words and thoughts so darned quickly and you would be thanking your LUCKY LUCKY stars that you and your child(ren) are NOT eligible through fitting the criteria.

Heartbreaking to the point I needed counselling, heartbreaking to the point that I, although not religious, offer a prayer of thanks for the circumstances we live in and the health of my family. Yes perhaps some families could 'help' themselves and not end up in these circumstances.
I feel proud and honoured to have bought some respite and normality into some of these young lives. I feel thankful that these families have been offered some much needed support. I am grateful that there is a scheme that offers some of the most disadvantaged youngsters a heads up in their young lives. The research behind this scheme shows a direct correlation between the disadvantages endured by some youngsters and their future life chances.

Are you reading that - DISADVANTAGED.... in this day and age in Britain. Some families who are so poor that the only hot decent balanced meal that child might get that day is at the providers.

Really - thank YOUR lucky stars that you DON'T need this scheme

.....And this is the reality of the scheme. Not Benefit Bums'...not just for non whites'....this!

So its just a bash on benefit claimers then? There are loads of reason people get income support, my friend also gets dla along with it. Her child would be entitled to a place. I would remind you that those with greater needs will get first priority anyway and spaces will be limited.

I am not bashing anyone on benifits, I am bashing those that offer those on benifits free things that those of us from working familys can not apply for,
IF they are going to give 10hrs free to those with 3 children under 5 it should be for ALL parents of those who have 3 children under 5
If they are going to give it to those people who are BME they should give it to all,

It is not those who are on benifits fault they are bing offered this, so its not about bashing them, its about the system, after all if CHILDREN need it for the reasons stated in the link, shouldnt all children need it for those reasons not just those who are on benifits or low wages?

As a Mum of an Sn Child I was referred for this scheme
Why would I then judge someone else for being referred, thinking they are less worthy, when I haven't walked a day in their shoes
Unbelievable how short sighted these comments are

This thread has wound me up so much so I would also like to point out that Harriet you seem to have a dim view of people with 3 children under 5. Well I fall into that category. I have DS1 born January 2008, DS2 born August 2009 and DD1 born June 2011. I have a Husband who has his own business and works bloody hard to support us.

As I said earlier, DS2 receives extra help which is a godsend to us, he attends a mainstream Pre-School one morning a week which we pay for and receives 4 hours a week at a Sure Start Centre getting 1-1 support to enable him to develop and hopefully catch up with his peers, these sessions or the 15 hours some people receive are not free child care so don't worry yu aren't missing out on something, or not getting a freebie you feel you should. It is help for CHILDREN who need it most, for whatever reason.

I sincerely hope you never have need to explore extra services for children who need it, or indeed that you ever need to claim benefits as you seem to also have a dislike to benefit claimers as your harsh, prejudiced and downright nasty comments will come back and bite you. I think it is awful you begrudge children gaining access to services they need in order to develop or live an easier life so much. Please stop generalising and assuming every child who needs extra help must have lazy alcoholic Parents who haven't shown an interest in the Child or it's wellbeing from birth. It is not the case.

Shock horror, you totally jumped the gun, I am a parent of not one but 2 children with special needs, & I would have got this , I had a 4 yr old asd child with a son in NICU for 6months & didnt even apply oh while being a single mother to both of them, , due to know knowing I also put that I totally agree with parents getting it for the reasons that you are shouting about,

The reason That i am disgusted as i did write is that I dont feel that tax payers (& yes my oh is one of them) should be paying for parents who are on income support to get child care due to having 3 under 5s or for being on income support & BME

So, you are complaining about something that is applicable to you but that you probably wouldn't have used. I am confused.

You may be 'disgusted' but I can tell you the scheme works and its needed - however its a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed. Open your eyes and realise that 'tax payers money' well spent now on some of these 'disadvantaged' youngsters is a hell of a lot more 'tax payers money' SAVED years down the line in rehabilitating these youngster, providing education to an adult is a lot more difficult and laborious that it is to a child who is like a sponge and so on! Its about breaking the cycle of being disadvantaged.
Its also not childcare per se - its early intervention and education

I am not bashing anyone on benifits, I am bashing those that offer those on benifits free things that those of us from working familys can not apply for,
IF they are going to give 10hrs free to those with 3 children under 5 it should be for ALL parents of those who have 3 children under 5If they are going to give it to those people who are BME they should give it to all,

It is not those who are on benifits fault they are bing offered this, so its not about bashing them, its about the system, after all if CHILDREN need it for the reasons stated in the link, shouldnt all children need it for those reasons not just those who are on benifits or low wages?

But the studies have defined BME children as candidates' for the developmental and social input...it hasn't defined "all". If it had...then "all" would be offered it. Is that really so hard to understand?

all children need support and can fall be hide but people whos oh works n things we dont get free 10 hours childcare and just coz your parents are on benefits doesnt mean they need support. i agree with if your child or self has a disabilty thats fair enough coz i can only imagine how hard its looking after them 24hrs. im surprised they still let everyone have the 15 hrs free when there kids are 3/4.

If you look at the overall criteria and read the whole link, as opposed to picking the bits out that support a narrow view, then you'll see this is not just designed to support families on benefits or asylum seekers etc its designed to support a range of families.

What, exactly, is the issue? Would'nt most posters just be glad if they don't qualify and hence don't have additional issues and hardship to overcome?

So, you are complaining about something that is applicable to you but that you probably wouldn't have used. I am confused.

You may be 'disgusted' but I can tell you the scheme works and its needed - however its a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed. Open your eyes and realise that 'tax payers money' well spent now on some of these 'disadvantaged' youngsters is a hell of a lot more 'tax payers money' SAVED years down the line in rehabilitating these youngster, providing education to an adult is a lot more difficult and laborious that it is to a child who is like a sponge and so on! Its about breaking the cycle of being disadvantaged.
Its also not childcare per se - its early intervention and education

I am not saying its not needed i am saying if a parent needs it due to needs, they it should be for ALL children, not just those on benifits, it is not about bashing those on benifits its about making all children entitled to the same !!

all children need support and can fall be hide but people whos oh works n things we dont get free 10 hours childcare and just coz your parents are on benefits doesnt mean they need support. i agree with if your child or self has a disabilty thats fair enough coz i can only imagine how hard its looking after them 24hrs. im surprised they still let everyone have the 15 hrs free when there kids are 3/4.

I have had support under a similar scheme when my dh worked and I was sahm. Contrary to popualr belief people on benefits do not get everything and those who work are not so badly done to in the main!

I am not bashing anyone on benifits, I am bashing those that offer those on benifits free things that those of us from working familys can not apply for,
IF they are going to give 10hrs free to those with 3 children under 5 it should be for ALL parents of those who have 3 children under 5
If they are going to give it to those people who are BME they should give it to all,

It is not those who are on benifits fault they are bing offered this, so its not about bashing them, its about the system, after all if CHILDREN need it for the reasons stated in the link, shouldnt all children need it for those reasons not just those who are on benifits or low wages?

it is for disadvantaged children ,, so unless there are parents out there with 3 disadvantaged children out there then they are not entitled to it? What is so wrong with that?
It's not childcare either , it's for the benefit of the children not the parents.

But the studies have defined BME children as candidates' for the developmental and social input...it hasn't defined "all". If it had...then "all" would be offered it. Is that really so hard to understand?

Paula, i meant that if children from BME familys needed this extra support then it should not matter if working or not working, they should be able to get it for free, its about making all children equal, if children need this extra support it should not have anything to do with parents income,

I am not saying its not needed i am saying if a parent needs it due to needs, they it should be for ALL children, not just those on benifits, it is not about bashing those on benifits its about making all children entitled to the same !!

But that is the point Harriet, not all Children have the same opportunities
Those of us that work (on WTC or not) can pay something towards Childcare and get 15 hours when they are 3
Those who meet the criteria ARE in need and their Children ARE disadvantaged and need the Scheme

so bascically, if you come from a faily where you do not have medical needs, work hard for a living so need child care you get nothing,
If on the other hand you pop out children at a rate of 1 a yr, & dont work you get it all,

Originally Posted by fran e(22)

I can't believe reading this that anyone would be envious of someone in receipt of this
Would you like to choose the criteria you would prefer to live with in order to get 10 hours free childcare, rather than having your health and a stable home life

Fran you are right some people really dont know what they have yet think they are missing out on something for nothing.

Well we are currently waiting to find out if my 2yr old is accepted onto this scheme and I tell you what I would much rather have my health back and be able to look after my children than to have to apply to have my 2yr old DD get a place in a nursery as I can no longer look after her and give her the same oppertunities that my older two children got. How I long to be able to do a simple thing like take her to go feed the ducks or play on the park without needing my partner with me, or to have my partner so he can go to work rather than stay at home getting depressed looking after me and our kids etc. I don't even know how I'm going to cope when my maternity leave finishes and I return to work for measly 16hrs a wk which I know I'm going to seriously struggle with and probably not cope with as just doing a simple school run has me back in bed for the rest of the day. So if you would like to trade places with me feel free as I wont say no to swapping things for a few months/years.

Fran you are right some people really dont know what they have yet think they are missing out on something for nothing.

Well we are currently waiting to find out if my 2yr old is accepted onto this scheme and I tell you what I would much rather have my health back and be able to look after my children than to have to apply to have my 2yr old DD get a place in a nursery as I can no longer look after her and give her the same oppertunities that my older two children got. How I long to be able to do a simple thing like take her to go feed the ducks or play on the park without needing my partner with me, or to have my partner so he can go to work rather than stay at home getting depressed looking after me and our kids etc. I don't even know how I'm going to cope when my maternity leave finishes and I return to work for measly 16hrs a wk which I know I'm going to seriously struggle with and probably not cope with as just doing a simple school run has me back in bed for the rest of the day. So if you would like to trade places with me feel free as I wont say no to swapping things for a few months/years.

Paula, i meant that if children from BME familys needed this extra support then it should not matter if working or not working, they should be able to get it for free, its about making all children equal, if children need this extra support it should not have anything to do with parents income,

The study has obviously identified specific groups...as in Children from BME who are the poorest ie on benefits'...legally and officially identified as the poorest...thus the most disadvantaged...coupled with the BME factor...means there is more disadvantage. It's quite simple really.

I think I'm just feeling bitter that I am actually having to resort to asking for help when just 2yrs ago I was able to look after my children with little problems and never considered that I might have to just to give my daughter the chance to help develop her as I have seen how bad her behaviour has come from not getting the attention she craves and deserves or chance to explore the world like the older 2 got. I had the interview on Friday and I just kept ending up in tears as it makes you feel like a failure despite knowing it is for my childs and families interest.

some of you really do need to understand the theory behind this scheme.

Its recognised that many (but not all) children from low income families, disadvantaged families etc - those who meet the criteria (and for every child that is accepted on the scheme there are many more who NEED a place but there is not enough money/spaces) are at risk of being disadvantaged FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. There is a cycle - born into poverty (yes POVERTY in 2012 in the UK) and low aspirations, low educational levels - all this lessens the chances of getting a good well paid job and so on.. and then they have children, go on benefits and so begins the new generation of poverty and disadvantage.

Children from disadvantaged families hear significantly less words per day that more affulent families (cannot remember the actual stats).
Children start school with lower chances of suceeding. This in turn takes away more expensive resources when the class of 30 kids start.... rather than all these children starting school on a more or less equal footing, some children are starting not even knowing that they have a name! Shocking isn't it. I can only go by the families I have offered care to.
Some families are so wary of authority that another layer is added to the mix - that they reject the teachers advice as interfering. Get these families on side by offering them a 'way out' coupled with sensitive support its starts to break the cycle.

And what about the families where there is abuse - these families need a lot of support and the children even more so.

Do you know what I am disgusted about - the lack of compassion, the lack of understanding, the lack of humility, the lack of humanity about some of these posts.

Hmm think people are missing the point and not reading this thread properly

They just see the word Benefits and fail to actually see the bigger picture. It's a bit sad really.

Originally Posted by Chelsea S(12)

all children need support and can fall be hide but people whos oh works n things we dont get free 10 hours childcare and just coz your parents are on benefits doesnt mean they need support. i agree with if your child or self has a disabilty thats fair enough coz i can only imagine how hard its looking after them 24hrs. im surprised they still let everyone have the 15 hrs free when there kids are 3/4.

Have you actually bothered to read about it? Cause it doesn't appear you have, you've seen the buzz word and decided to fixate purely on that.